Thenar muscles
Eminentia thenaris (mm. abductor et flexor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis)
MuscularSuperficial musclesArmLeft and right
View left in 3D View right in 3D
- What it is
- The fleshy ball of the thumb: abductor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis and opponens pollicis (with adductor pollicis deeper), from the flexor retinaculum, scaphoid and trapezium to the first metacarpal and base of the thumb's proximal phalanx.
- Function
- Moves the thumb, above all in opposition — bringing the thumb pad onto the finger pads.
- Size
- About 5 cm long and 3 cm wide.
- Clinical note
- Wasting of the thenar eminence is a late sign of carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve compression).